Some of whom or Some of who: Which Is Correct?

Updated 2026-10-03 · Which One Is Correct editorial team

Quick answer: The correct phrase is always some of whom. You should never write some of who in standard English because whom acts as the object of the preposition of. This guide explains why this distinction matters for clear and professional communication in formal writing contexts.

The Short Answer

Some of whom is the only grammatically correct option in standard English writing and speech.

People often confuse these forms because who is the default choice in casual conversation. Since whom is rarely used in daily dialogue, writers instinctively pick who even when the grammar demands the objective case form.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Form	Status	Use it when
some of whom	Correct	Referring to people as objects or after prepositions
some of who	Incorrect	Never use this form in standard English writing
whom	Objective Case	The person receives the action or follows a preposition
who	Subjective Case	The person performs the action or is the subject

Correct Example Sentences

The committee included several experts, some of whom had published widely on the topic.
She invited fifty guests, some of whom arrived early to help set up the hall.
There were many applicants for the job, some of whom possessed unique technical skills.
The teacher asked students to raise their hands, some of whom volunteered to read aloud.
He met many travelers during his trip, some of whom became close friends over time.
The conference attracted scholars from Europe, some of whom presented groundbreaking research.
Many people attended the rally, some of whom carried signs supporting the new policy.
The rescue team found several hikers, some of whom needed immediate medical attention.
Our neighborhood has many gardeners, some of whom win prizes at the county fair.
The author thanked her editors, some of whom worked tirelessly to perfect the manuscript.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Many volunteers helped, some of who stayed late to clean up.: Many volunteers helped, some of whom stayed late to clean up.
He has many friends, some of who are musicians.: He has many friends, some of whom are musicians.
The students raised their hands, some of who needed assistance.: The students raised their hands, some of whom needed assistance.
Several guests arrived early, some of who brought gifts.: Several guests arrived early, some of whom brought gifts.
The company hired new staff, some of who were trained in sales.: The company hired new staff, some of whom were trained in sales.
Many artists were invited, some of who displayed their work.: Many artists were invited, some of whom displayed their work.

A Quick Test You Can Use

Replace the relative pronoun with he or him to check the grammar. If him sounds correct, then whom is the right choice. For example, you would say some of them helped, so the correct relative form is some of whom helped.

Related Word Pairs

who vs whom: Use who as the subject and whom as the object or after prepositions.
their vs they're vs there: Their shows possession, they're is a contraction, and there indicates place.
its vs it's: Its shows possession, while it's is a contraction for it is.
your vs you're: Your shows possession, while you're is a contraction for you are.
effect vs affect: Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence, while effect is usually a noun.

More Example Sentences

The charity received donations from many donors, some of whom requested anonymity.
Several candidates applied for the position, some of whom had prior experience in management.
The museum displayed ancient artifacts, some of whom were discovered during recent excavations.
Many tourists visited the historic site, some of whom joined guided tours to learn more.
The library hosted a reading event, some of whom were authors of best-selling novels.
Our team includes several engineers, some of whom specialize in renewable energy systems.
The festival attracted musicians from around the world, some of whom performed on the main stage.
Many residents attended the town meeting, some of whom voiced concerns about the new zoning laws.
The scholarship program supports students, some of whom come from low-income families.
Several chefs participated in the cooking competition, some of whom created innovative dishes.

Quick Practice

Many employees received bonuses, some of were thrilled by the unexpected reward.

whom

The survey included responses from many users, some of suggested new features.

whom

Several passengers boarded the flight, some of traveled with pets.

whom

The gallery showcased paintings by many artists, some of were well-known locally.

whom

Many volunteers signed up for the event, some of helped with setup.

whom

The conference included speakers from many countries, some of shared innovative ideas.

whom

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use some of who in casual text messages?

While casual texting often ignores grammar rules, some of whom remains the standard. Using who instead might look uneducated to professional readers or teachers grading your work.

Why is whom considered objective case?

Whom is the objective case because it functions like he or him. It receives the action of the verb or follows a preposition like of, to, or for in a sentence.

Is some of them correct instead of some of whom?

Yes, you can use some of them if you start a new independent clause. However, you cannot join two independent clauses with just a comma, so punctuation matters greatly here.

Do native speakers still use whom correctly?

Many native speakers avoid whom in speech because it sounds formal. However, in writing, especially academic or professional documents, using whom correctly demonstrates strong command of English grammar rules.